There is no Andy Landry. This reads like the Enquirer. - Tiki Central Ohana

I ikitnrev Tiki Socialite D.C. / Virginia Joined: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1325	I ikitnrev Posted posted on Sun, Sep 24, 2006 1:51 PM I somehow had been ignorant on this scam. A while back I noticed people were sending photos and packages to a kid named Andy, but was busy, so stepped away. I peeked into the thread today, and noticed all that had happened over the past week. My sympathies go to those who placed their trust in this story, and got burned. There are some people who will admire your generosity, while others may laugh at your gullability. All that is needed is for some bald Allen Funt guy (Grog?) to step out from behind the curtain and say 'Smile, you're on Candid Camera.' Has anyone read the 1987 Re/Search book 'Pranks' that was published in 1987? It is an amazing, funny, and fascinating book, about how people would pull off elaborate pranks - not to raise money, but just to play with people's minds, and the cultural assumptions that they carry. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that 'Barb' was acting in this vein - and just planted the seeds of a small prank, that somehow snowballed a bit out of control. The reason this theory is on my mind is because Volume 2 of 'Pranks!' is coming out in a couple of months. If this is true, from a subversive performance artist point of view, a little bit of action of her part sure ended up riling up a lot of people -- which might have been her intention. Or she could have been highlighting on how easy it is for some of us to have the emotions pendulem swing from the 'do-good heart-felt generosity' to the possible violent fantasies of seeking revenge in the suburbs of Houston. It is a definite possibility that this might solely be a financial scam, some local U.S. form of a Nigerian e-mail scam, and if that is the case, then I do hope that Barb is pursued and prosecuted. I am curious to see what the real truth is, and what the intention behind all of this was. By the way, there are clowns involved with hospitals and sick kids in the U.S. - the most famous one being Patch Adams, who Robin Williams portrayed in a recent movie. I have a couple of friends who have personally known Patch, and they say he is a great guy. There is also Wavy Gravy, who was also known for his work with sick kids. Pesonally, I think I am often scammed by paying $8 for what I think is going to be a mai-tai, but ends up being some sickenly sweet kool-aid confection drink instead. Vern

I somehow had been ignorant on this scam. A while back I noticed people were sending photos and packages to a kid named Andy, but was busy, so stepped away. I peeked into the thread today, and noticed all that had happened over the past week.

My sympathies go to those who placed their trust in this story, and got burned. There are some people who will admire your generosity, while others may laugh at your gullability. All that is needed is for some bald Allen Funt guy (Grog?) to step out from behind the curtain and say 'Smile, you're on Candid Camera.'

Has anyone read the 1987 Re/Search book 'Pranks' that was published in 1987? It is an amazing, funny, and fascinating book, about how people would pull off elaborate pranks - not to raise money, but just to play with people's minds, and the cultural assumptions that they carry. I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that 'Barb' was acting in this vein - and just planted the seeds of a small prank, that somehow snowballed a bit out of control. The reason this theory is on my mind is because Volume 2 of 'Pranks!' is coming out in a couple of months.

If this is true, from a subversive performance artist point of view, a little bit of action of her part sure ended up riling up a lot of people -- which might have been her intention. Or she could have been highlighting on how easy it is for some of us to have the emotions pendulem swing from the 'do-good heart-felt generosity' to the possible violent fantasies of seeking revenge in the suburbs of Houston.

It is a definite possibility that this might solely be a financial scam, some local U.S. form of a Nigerian e-mail scam, and if that is the case, then I do hope that Barb is pursued and prosecuted.

I am curious to see what the real truth is, and what the intention behind all of this was.

By the way, there are clowns involved with hospitals and sick kids in the U.S. - the most famous one being Patch Adams, who Robin Williams portrayed in a recent movie. I have a couple of friends who have personally known Patch, and they say he is a great guy. There is also Wavy Gravy, who was also known for his work with sick kids.

Pesonally, I think I am often scammed by paying $8 for what I think is going to be a mai-tai, but ends up being some sickenly sweet kool-aid confection drink instead.

Vern

Post #256538 by ikitnrev on Sun, Sep 24, 2006 1:51 PM